Method for the production of 5 (3&#39;-aminopropylidene) dibenzo [a, d] cyclohepta [1, 4] dienes



United States Patent "cc Patented 3 3, 1 63 3 256 332 a process which comprises mixing and reacting a com- METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF (3'-AMINO- Pound the formula PROPYLIDENE) DIBENZO[a,d]CYCLOHEPTA[1,4] R1 DIENES Niels Lassen, Copenhagen, Denmark, assignor to Kefalas 5 A/S, Copenhagen-Valby, Denmark No Drawing. Filed Mar. 1h, 1963, Ser. No. 266,221 H Claims priority, application Great Britain, Mar. 23, 1962, 2 C=CH,C=C H2 11,198/62; Nov. 9, 1962, 42,377/62 H2O 3 Claims. (Cl. 260570.8) The present invention relates to the production of 10 dibenzo [a,d] cyclohepta-[L4] diene of the formula: wherein R and R are as defined above with an amine AmH, wherein Am is as defined above in the presence of R1 a metal amide, metal or metalorganic compound which are able to form a metalamide with the amine present in the reaction mixture as a catalyst, and isolating the com- Hzc pound of Formula I in the form of the free base or an I C=ClELCH-CHz-Am and addition salt thereof. 3 The compounds of Formula II, which are hitherto unknown, may conveniently be prepared from dibenzo (I) [a,d] cyclohepta [1,4] diene-S-on or its derivatives respectively by reacting with an allylor methallylmagwherein R represents hydrogen, halogen, e.g., chloro, nesium halide, hydrolzing the complex formed and debromo or fl o or a lower lk l group, R represents hydrating the resulting carbinol to yield the compound hydrogen or a methyl group and Am represents a secf F a II. ondary or tertiary amino group, as well as non-toxic acid The amine, is according to the method of the addition salts th r f, invention preferably present in excess so as to constitute The compounds f F l I d h id ddi i m at the same time a solvent for the reactants, but another thereof are useful therapeutics and possess valuble pharinert Organic solvent y as Well he P The Instill macodynamic properties, which make them particularly is Preferably sell"cted from the alkalimetals, especially useful as anti-depressants in the treatment of psychotic sodium a lilhillm- When using a metalamide ll has patients, Thu it h b hown that th o ou d of proved particular suitable to use sodamide. As metal- Formula I distinguish themselves in the treatment of organic compound it has been found especially suitable patients suffering from depressions, especially of an endoto use a Grignard compound such as an alkylor aryl genic nature. magnesium halide, for example ethyl magnesium bromide Some of the compounds of Formula I wherein Am repor P y magnesium bromide, but also other metalofresents a tertiary amino group have previously been degaIliC Compounds such as hhtylllthhlm, Phenyllllhium scribed, for example, in British patent specification No. th like have been f und Convenient. 858,187. The amount of catalyst used varies considerably partly When the compounds of Formula I are asymmetrically 40 depending upon the kind of catalyst used .and the condisubstituted in the, phenyl rings, they may exi t as two tions of the reaction, but the mole fraction of catalyst to geometric isomers of the cis-trans type, which isomers the compound of Formula II may suitably be from about although similar are not identical with respect to their 0.1 to 5 although higher proportions may be used. pharmacodynamic properties. The isomers may be sepa- It has been found convenient to conduct the reaction rated according to procedure conventional in the art. at an elevated temperature preferably above degrees The compounds of Formula I and the acid addition salts Centigrade in order to secure a reasonable time of reacthereof may be administered both orally .and parenterally, tion. When employing -a higher boiling amine (AmH) for example in the form of tablets, capsules, powders, the reaction may suitably be carried out about the boiling syrups or solutions for injection. point of the amine. When using rather volatile amines The process provided by the present invention dis- 50 such as methylamine or dimethylamine it has been found tinguishes itself in that on the one hand it makes possible suitable to carry out the reaction in an autoclave under the preparation of such valuable compounds of Formula I pressure and preferably at a temperature of 100 degrees which are not accessible according to known methods, Centigrade or higher. and on the other hand it provides some of the known The mechanism of the reaction is not fully elucidated, compounds of Formula I in better yields and a higher but it is presumed that it proceeds via a metalamide cordegree of purity. responding to the amine reactant (AmH). When a metal- In the foregoing Formula I and elsewhere herein, the is used as catalyst it may be presumed that the metal term lower-alkyl refers to an alkyl radical containing up first reacts with the amine to form an amide. When using to and including eight carbon atoms, and preferably no another metalamide or an organic metal compound the more than three carbon atoms, which may have either metal compound in question in all probability first reacts straight or branched chain structure, for example, methyl, With the amine to form an amide. v ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, isobutyl, amyl, hexyl, As representative examples of heterocyclic amines of heptyl, octyl, or the like. the formula AmH may be mentioned pyrrolidine, piperi- The process provided by the present invention consists dine, morpholine, thiamorpholine, piperazine, N'-loweressentially in the production of an amine substituted comalkylpiperazine, N'-hydroxy-lower-alkylpiperazine and C- pound of Formula I, or an acid addition salt thereof by methyl derivatives of the foregoing heterocyclic amines.

3 The N'-hydroxy-lower-alkylpiperazine radicals may be represented by the partial formula: N-lower-alkylene- OH, wherein the lower-alkylene radical is straight or branched and is a lower-alkyl radical minus one hydrogen atom and the hydroxy group may be primary, secondary or tertiary.

For obvious reasons, when isolating any of the compounds of Formula I in the form of an acid addition salt, the acid is preferably selected so as to contain an anion which is non-toxic and pharmacologically acceptable at least in usual therapeutic doses. Representative acid addition salts are hydrochlorides, hydrobromides, sulphates, phosphates, nitrates, acetates, lactates, maleates, citrates, tartrates and bitartrates, succiantes, 'oxalates, methanesulphonates and ethanesulphonates. Other acid addition acid salts are likewise suitable and may be employed if desired. For example, fumaric, benzoic, salicylic, bismethylenesalicylic, propionic, gluconic, malic, malonic, mandelic, cinnarnic, citraconic, stearic, palmitic, itaconic, glycolic, benzene-sulphonic, and other sulphonic acids may also be employed as acid addition salt-forming acids. While it is preferred to isolate the products from the process of the invention in the form of a solid or crystalline acid addition salt, if for any reason it is desired to obtain one of these amines in the form of its free base, this is ordinarily done according to conventional procedure, for example by conducting the amination reaction in a solvent and thereafter evaporating the solvent to obtain the reaction product as a residue, usually an oil, or by dissolving 'the isolated hydrochloride or other salt inwater, treating with a base such as aqueous ammonia, sodium carbonate or other suitable alkaline material, extracting the liberated base with a suitable solvent such as benzene, drying the extract, and evaporating to dryness in vacuo or fractionally distilling.

When Amrepresents a piperazine radical, and it is desired to subsequently treat with an alkylating agent this is done according to conventional procedure by treating with for example methanolic formaldehyde in formic acid according to the classic Eschweiler-Clarke procedure, or a reactive alkyl or substituted alkyl ester, especially a hydroxyalkyl ester, for example alkyl or substituted akyl halides, e.g., bromides or iodides, alkyl or substituted alkyl sulfates or sulfonates of the sodium or potassium alkyl sulfate or sulfonate type or of the dialkyl sulfate type, and the like.

The following examples are given to illustrate the process and products of the present invention, but they are to be understood as exemplary only and are not to be construed as limiting.

Example 1 (3 -dz"methylaminop'ropylidene -dib enzo [a,d]cyclohepta [1,4]diene and its hydrochloride (a) To a solution of allylmagnesium bromide in 2.5 liters of ether, prepared from 363 grams (3 mole) of allylbromide, are added 416 grams (2 mole) of dibenzo[a,d] cycloheptal[1,4]diene-5-on and the reaction mixture is left standing for half an hour, when it is poured into finely crushed ice and glacial acetic acid is added until the magnesium hydroxide has gone into solution. The ether phase is separated, Washed with dilute aqueous ammonia unto basic reaction, dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate, filtered and evaporated on a steam bath. The residue which is a light yellow oil. is dissolved in 1.5 liters of petroleum ether and cooled to degrees centigrade. When standing for some time 5-alkyl-dibenzo[a,d] -cyclohepta[1,4]diene-5-ol crystallizes as colourless crystals 4 which is filtered off and washed on the filter with a little petroleumether. By further evaponation of the mother liquor the total yield is raised to 465 grams (93%) of a colourless crystalline substance melting at 4042 degrees centigrade.

(b) 100 grams of this substance are dissolved in a mixture of 50 milliliters of benzene and 40 milliliters of acetic anhydride and heated to 85 degrees centigrade.

2% milliliters of acetylchloride are added and after 1-5 minutes a reaction takes place which raises the temperature to about 110 degrees centigrade. After the reaction has subsided the mixture is cooled, dissolved in ether and washed with dilute aqueous ammonia unto basic reaction. The ether phase is separated, dried over anhydrous potassiu'm carbonate and evaporated on a steam bath finally in vacuo. The residue which mainly consists of 5- (propen- 3'-yliden-1)-dibenzo[a,d] cyclohepta[1,4]diene is an almost colourless oil. This oil is used directly in the next step without further purification. By dissolving the oil in 500 milliliters of absolute ethanol and cooling, colourless crystals melting at 59-60 degrees centigrade are obtained.

(c) To the unpurified 5-(propen-3-yliden-1)-dibenzo [a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene from the preceding paragraph is added a solution of phenylmagnesium bromide in ether prepared from grams (0.6 mole) of bromobenzene, whereupon the ether is evaporated in vacuo. The residue is poured into an autoclave and 300 milliliters of anhydrous dimethylamine are added while stirring and cooling. The autoclave is closed and heated to 110 degrees centigrade for eighteen hours. After cooling the autoclave is opened, excess dimethylamine is removed by evaporation, the residue is poured unto finely crushed ice and glacial acetic acid added until the magnesium hydroxide has been dissolved, whereupon the acid solution is Washed with ether. The etherlayer is extracted once with dilute acetic acid, whereupon the combined acid solutions are made alkaline with dilute aqueous ammonia. Hereby separates 5 (3'-dimethylaminopropylidene) dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta [1,4]-diene as a light yellow oil. The oil is extracted with ether, the ether phase dried over anhydrous potassium carbonate, treated with decolourizing carbon and evaporated on a steam bath. The residue is dissolved in 500 milliliters of acetone and the solution neutralized to pH 5 with a concentrated solution of dry hydrogenchloride in ether. Upon standing and cooling the hydrochloride of 5 (3'-dimethylaminopropylidene) dibenzo [a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]-diene is obtained as colourless crystals which are filtered off and washed on the filter with a little acetone. Yield 107 grams (85%) of the hydrochloride melting at 197-198 degrees centigrade.

Example 2.5-(3'-mezhylaminopropylidene)-dibenz0 [a,d]cyclohep ta[1,4]diene and its hydrochloride When Example 1 is carried out starting withthe unpurified 5- (propen-3 '-yliden-1') -dibenzo [-a,d] cyclohepta [l,4]diene, 1 mole of phenylmagnesium bromide and 300 milliliters of anhydrous methylamine instead of dimethylamine the hydrochloride of 5-(3-methylaminopropylidene)-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4] diene is obtained in a yield of 75% and melting at 216-218 degrees centigrade.

Example 3.5-(3'-methylaminopropylidene)-dibenz0 [a,d]cycl0hepta[1,4]diene and its hydrochloride 300 milliliters of anhydrous methylamine and eight grams of lithium are heated in an autoclave at 120 degrees centigrade for 4 hours resulting in a dissolution of the metal in the amine. The solution is cooled and the autoclave opened and 5-(propen-3'-yliden-1)-dibenzo [a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene prepared from grams of 5-allyl-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene-5-0l is added while cooling and stirring. The autoclave is closed and heated to 110 degrees centigrade for 44 hours. After cooling the 5-(3-methylaminopropylidene)-dibenzo[a,d] cyclohepta[1,4]diene formed by the reaction is isolated as described in Example 1 (c). The base is dissolved in 400 milliliters of absolute ethanol and neutralized to pH 5 with a solution of dry hydrogen chloride in ether. When cooling 49 grams (41%) of the hydrochloride 5-(3'- methylaminopropylidene) dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4] diene is obtained as colourless crystals melting at 2 16 2 18 degrees centigrade.

To 5 (propen 3' ylidene 1') dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene prepared from grams of S-allyl-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene-5-ol is added a solution of phenyllithiurn in ether prepared from 8 grams of bromo benzene, the ether is evaporated in vacuo and 40 milliliters of anhydrous pyrrolidine are added, whereupon the mixture is boiled on a steam bath in an atmosphere of nitrogen with reflux for 40 hours. Thereafter excess of pyrrolidine is evaporated in va-cuo and from the residue are obtained as described in Example 1 (c) 4.5 grams (34%) of the hydrochloride of 5-(3-N-pyrrolidinylpropylidene)-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]-diene as colourless crystals which after. recrystallization from acetone melts at 226-228 degrees centigrade.

Example 5.5 (3' N (N' methyl) piperdzinylpropylidene) dibenz0[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene and its dihydrochloride To 5 (propen 3' ylidene 1) dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene prepared from 20 grams of 5-ally1-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene-5-ol are added 60 milliliters of N-methylpiperazine and 2 grams of soclamide whereupon the mixture is heated to 110 degrees centigrated for 18 hours. Excess of methylpiperazine is evaporated in vacuo and 5-(3-(N-methyl)piperazinylpropylidene) dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene isolated as described in Example 1 (c), as a yellow oil which is dissolved in 25 milliliters of acetone and neutralized to pH 3 with dry hydrogenchloride in ether. Thereby 24.8 grams (64%) of the dihydrochloride is obtained as a crystalline substance which after recrystallization from ethanol melts at 249-253 degrees centigrade.

Example 6.-5-(3-N-piperazinylpropylidene)-dibenz0 [a,d]-cyclohepta[1,4]diene and its dimaleate When Example 5 is carried out using 60 grams of anhydrous piperazine instead of N-methylpiperazine. 5-(3'- N-piperazinyl propylidene) dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta [1,4]diene is obtained. When dissolving this base in 100 milliliters of absolute ethanol and neutralizing the solution to pH 4 with a solution of maleic acid in absolute ethanol 32.5 grams (61%) of the dimaleate are obtained as a white crystalline substance melting at 166-168 degrees centigrade.

Example 7.-5 (3' N (N [3 hydroxyethyl) piperazinylpropylidehe) dibenz0[a,d]cycl0hepta[1,4]diene and its dihydrochloride Three grams of 5-(3-N-piperazinylpropylidene)-dibenzo[a,d]cyclol1epta[1,4]diene are dissolved in ten milliliters of methanol, 0.7 milliliter of ethyleneoxide is added, and the mixture is left standing for five hours a-t room temperature. Thereafter the solvent is evaporated in vacuo, the residue is dissolved in ether and the ethereal solution extracted with dilute acetic acid. The acetic acid solution is made alkaline with dilute aqueous ammonia, and the base which separates is extracted with ether. The ether phase is dried and'evaporated on a steam bath, the residue dissolved in fifty milliliters of absolute ethanol and the solution neutralized to pH 3 with dry hydrogen chloride in ether, resulting in the crystallization of 3.1 grams of the dihydrochloride of 5-(3-N-(N-B-hydroxyethyl)piperazinylpropylidene) dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta [1,4]diene melting at 257-259 degrees centigrade and being only silghtly soluble in ethanol.

Example 8.-5 (3 N piper-idylpropylidene) dibenzo [a,d]cycl0hepta[1,4]diene and its hydrochloride When Example 5 is carried out using 60 milliliters of anhydrous piperidine instead of N-methylpiperazine 18.7 grams (55%) of the hydrochloride of 5-(3'-N-piperidylpropylidene)-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene are ob- 6 tained melting at 223-224 degrees centigrade after recrystallization from absolute ethanol.

Example 9.Other 5-(3'-sec0ndary amino or tertiary aminopropylidene) dibenzo [a,d] cyclohepta[],41dienes and their hydrochlorides When Example 1 is carried out starting with the unpurified 5 (propen 3 yliden 1') dibenzo[-a,d] cyclohepta [l,4]diene and the corresponding amount of dibenzylamine, benzylamine, methylbenzylamine, ethanolamine, ethylamine, isopropylamine, diethylamine, morpholine, methyl phenyl 2 isopropylamine, 4 diethylamino- 1 methyl n butylamine, methylcyclopentylamine, N- (3 rnethylbenzyl) piperazine respectively instead of dimethylamine, the hydrochlorides of t 5- 3 -dibenzylaminopropylidene-dibenzo[a,d1oyclohepta [1,4]diene (M.P. 239-240 degrees Centigrade),

5- 3'-benzylarninopropylidene) -dibenzo a,d] cyclohepta [1,4]diene (M.P. -177 degrees centigrade),

5- 3'-methylbenzylaminopropylidene -dibenzo [a,d] cycloheptal[1,4]diene (M.P. 215-127 degrees centigrade),

5- (3 -hydroxyethylaminopropylidene -dibenzo [a,d]

cyclohepta[1,4]diene (M.P. 212-213 degrees centigrade 5- 3'-ethylaminopropylidene) -dibenzo [a,d]cyclohepta [1,4]diene (M.P. 262-264 degrees centigrade),

5- 3'-isopropylaminopropylidene -dibenzo [a,d] cyclohepta[1,4]diene (M.P. 239-241 degrees centigrade 5- (3 -diethylaminopropylidene -dibenzo [a,d] cyclohepta [1,4] diene (M.P. 168-169 degrees centigrade),

5- 3'-morpholinopropylidene) -dibenzo a,d] cyclohepta [1,4] diene (M.P. 233-234 degrees centigrade),

5-[3'-N-methyl-N- (3 "-phenylpropyl-Z" -aminopropylidene]-dibenzol[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene (M.P. 159-161 degrees centigrade),

5 [3 (4"-diethylamino-1-methyl-butylamino -propylidene]-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene (M.P. 221-222 degrees centigrade),

5-(3'-methyl-cyclopentylaminopropylidene) dibenzo [a,d]cy-clohepta[1,4]diene (M.P. 218-219 degrees centigrade), and

5-[3'-(4"-[3"-methylbenzyl] piperaziny1-1")-propylidene]-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene (M.P. 256-258 degrees centigrade) are obtained.

Example 10.3 chloro 5 (3'dimethylaminopr0pylidene)-dibenz0[a,d]cycl0hepta[1,4]diene and its hydrochloride When Example'l is carried out using 3-chloro-dibenzo- [a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene-5on instead of dibenzo[a,d]- cyclohepta[ 1,4]diene-S-on the hydrochloride of 3-chloro- 5 (3 dimethylaminopropylidene)-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene is obtained melting at 210-212 degrees centigrade after recrystallization from ethanol/ether.

Example 11.3-chl0r0-5-(3'-methyl-benzylaminopropylidene)-dibenz0[a,d]cyclohepta[], l]diene and 3-chl0r0- 5 (3 melhylaminopropylidene)-dibenz0 [a,d]-cyclohepta[1,4]diene and their hydrochlorides When Example 3 is carried out using methyl-benzylamine and methylamine respectively instead of dimethylamine the hydrochlorides of 3-chloro-5-(3'-methyl-benzylaminopropylidene) dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene (M.P. 231-233 degrees centigrade) and 3-chloro-5-(3'- methylaminopropylidene) dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]- diene (M.P. 2 60-262 degrees centigrade) respectively are obtained.

' Example 12.3 methyl 5 (3-dimethylaminopropylidene)-dibenzo[a,d]cyclhepta[1,4]diene and its hydrochloride When Example 1 is carried out using 3-methyl-dibenzo- [a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene-5-on instead of dibenzo[ a,d]- cyclohepta[1,4]diene-5-on the hydrochloride of B-methyl- 5 (3' dimethylaminopropylidene) -dibenz0[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene is obtained melting at 220-221 degrees centigrade after recrystallization from ethanol/ether.

Example 13-.-3 methyl-5-(3'morpholinopropylzklene)- dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[l,4]diene and its hydrochloride When Example 5 is carried out using morpholine instead of dimethylamine the hydrochloride of B-methyl- 5 (3' morpholinopropylidene) dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[l1,4]diene melting at 230-240 degrees centigrade after recrystallization from ethanol/ether is obtained.

Example 14.5-(2'-methyl 3' dimethylaminopropylidene)-dibenz0[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene and its hydrochloride When Example 1 is carried out using methallylbromide instead of allyl-bromide the hydrochloride of 5-(2'-methyl 3' dimethylarninopropylidene) dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]diene melting at 214-215 degrees centigrade after recrystallization from ethanol/ether is obtained.

Example 15.5-(2'-methyl-3-methylaminopropylidene)- dibenz0[a,d]cycl0hepta [1,4] diene and its hydrochloride When Example 7 is carried out using methylamine instead of -dimethylamine the hydrochloride of 5-(2'- methyl 3' methylaminopropylidene) dibenzo[a,d] cyclohepta[1,4]diene melting at 195-196 degrees centigrade after recrystallization from ethanol/ether is obtained.

' What I claim is:

1. Method of producing dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepta[1,4]- dienes selected from the group consisting of (1) bases having the structural formula:

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, halogen and a loWer-alkyl group, R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a methyl group and Am is selected from the groupconsisting of lower-alkylamino, diloWer-alkylamino, dibenzylamino, benzylamino, methylbenzylamino, pyrrolidino, piperidino, morpholino, thiamorpholino, .piperazino, and N-loweralkylpiperazino, and (2) non-toxic pharmaceutieally acceptable acid addition salts thereof, comprising the steps of mixing and reacting together a compound of the formula:

HrC

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,449,644 9/1948 Danforth 260-577 2,984,687 5/1961 Esmay et al. 260577 3,073,847 1/1963 Doe'bel et a1. 260-5705 X FOREIGN PATENTS 215,424 6/1961 Australia.

CHARLES B. PARKER, Primary' Examiner.

ROBERT V. HINES, Assistant Examiner. 

1. METHOD OF PRODUCING DIBENZOL(A,D)CYCLOHEPTA(1,4)DIENES SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF (1) BASES HAVING THE STRUCTURAL FORMULA: 